FasterSkier

Tag: 7 things

  • 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Erik Bjornsen

    7 Things You Didn’t Know About Erik Bjornsen

    Erik Bjornsen after winning the first race of 2014 U.S. Cross Country Championships, the 15 k classic individual start, on Jan. 4 at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. It was the 22-year-old Bjornsen's second national title in as many years.
    Erik Bjornsen after winning the first race of 2014 U.S. Cross Country Championships, the 15 k classic individual start, on Jan. 4 at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. It was the 22-year-old Bjornsen’s second national title in as many years.

    Fresh off a national title at 2014 U.S. Cross Country Championships, Erik Bjornsen flew to Europe, did a couple World Cup races in Poland and was officially named to the 2014 Olympic team shortly after. In his first Olympics, Bjornsen, 22, will be the second-youngest U.S. nordic skier in Sochi after teammate Jessie Diggins — and he’s headed there with his sister, Sadie, also on the team. But first, he and Diggins are racing at U23 World Championships, which start tomorrow in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

    Athlete: Erik Bjornsen

    Team: U.S. Ski Team; Alaska Pacific University (first Olympics)

    Age: 22

    Hometown: Winthrop, Wash.

    Sadie Bjornsen and her younger brother Erik with their "Wax Ring" prizes after winning an Alaska Pacific University time trial earlier this month at Hatcher Pass near Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo: http://sadiebjornsen.blogspot.com) http://sadiebjornsen.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-final-countdown.html
    Sadie and Erik Bjornsen while training with Alaska Pacific University at Hatcher Pass near Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo: Sadie Bjornsen/sadiebjornsen.blogspot.com)

    7 Things:

    1. Favorite city to have a layover: Seattle
    2. Favorite drink: Hot chocolate
    3. Most exciting games: Foosball and Sequence
    4. Best role models: Mom and Dad
    5. Least-favorite road in Anchorage: Tudor
    6. Favorite very affordable truck: 1994 Ford Ranger
    7. My favorite place: Methow Valley, Washington

    Bonus Round:

    • Go-to mantra or motto: Life goes on, everything happens for a reason.
    • What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? My apartment on Alaska Pacific University campus.
    • Best part about being a pro athlete: Making friends all around the world.
    • 3 travel essentials: 1. French to English Translator, 2. My neck pillow, 3. Stac It Up gloves
    • Go-to travel meal or food: PowerBars
    • Song you could listen to non-stop: “Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
    • Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: Drake’s new album

    ***

  • 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Ida Sargent (Birthday Edition)

    7 Things You Didn’t Know About Ida Sargent (Birthday Edition)

    Ida Sargent (second from left) with her Craftsbury Green Racing Project teammates Liz Guiney, Hannah Dreissigacker, and Susan Dunklee on a ski earlier this week. (Photo: Ida Sargent)
    Ida Sargent (second from left) with her Craftsbury Green Racing Project teammates Liz Guiney (l), Susan Dunklee and Hannah Dreissigacker on a ski earlier this week in Platzwiese in the Italian Dolomites. (Photo: Ida Sargent)

    On her 26th birthday, Ida Sargent of the U.S. Ski Team shares some fun personal tidbits from Toblach, Italy, three days after she was officially named to the 2014 Olympic team.

    Athlete: Ida Sargent

    Team: U.S. Ski Team; Craftsbury Green Racing Project (first Olympics)

    Age: 26

    Hometown: Orleans, Vt.

     

    Sargent on her way to qualifying 15th at the World Cup skate sprint on Jan. 18 in Szklarska Poreba, Poland. She went on to finish 13th then notch a career-best distance result of ninth in the 10 k classic sprint the next day. (Photo: Fischer/NordicFocus)
    Sargent on her way to qualifying 15th at the World Cup skate sprint on Jan. 18 in Szklarska Poreba, Poland. She went on to finish 13th then notch a career-best distance result of ninth in the 10 k classic sprint the next day. (Photo: Fischer/NordicFocus)

    7 Things:

    1. I have been known to drink maple syrup straight and one of the desserts we had when I was growing up was a small bowl of maple syrup.
    2. I’m a horrible swimmer and I barely survived swim lessons as a kid
    3. My size 35 feet [Euro] are the smallest on the World Cup
    4. I love spontaneity and new adventures. During college I was studying abroad in France and I rented a cruiser bike for a week and biked around southwest France and the Pyrenees by myself without a plan just choosing roads that looked cool and a place to stay when I got tired.
    5. I only drink out of the right side of my mouth
    6. I decided I wanted to go to Dartmouth College when I was 8 years old because I watched the NCAA championships and thought the teal Dartmouth suits with purple snowflakes were by far the coolest.
    7. I’m the youngest of three kids and both my siblings are much better skiers than I am but they don’t get out on their xc skis very much anymore.  I owe any success to them though as developed my competitive drive desperately trying to keep up with my sister Elsa and learned how to be tough from my brother Eben during times like when he forced me to ride my bike over 10 miles to school in the 1st grade when we missed the bus.

    Bonus Round:

    • Go-to mantra or motto: Carpe diem
    • What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? Independence
    • Best part about being a pro athlete: I get to play outside every single day!
    • 3 travel essentials: VT Coffee Company coffee, kindle, earplugs
    • Go-to travel meal or food: Yogurt and cereal
    • Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: Loud and angry heavy metal

    ***

    See also: Sadie Bjornsen | Sophie Caldwell | Jessie Diggins | Simi Hamilton | Alex Harvey| Noah Hoffman | Andy Newell | Kikkan Randall

  • 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Jessie Diggins

    7 Things You Didn’t Know About Jessie Diggins

    Jessie Diggins (r) with her dad, sister Kenzie and mom (behind the camera) on a family ski in the Midwest. "I feel so lucky to have grown up skiing and having fun outdoors!" Diggins recently wrote on her blog. (Photo: Jessie Diggins/http://jessiediggins.com/)
    Jessie Diggins (r) with her dad, sister Kenzie and mom (behind the camera) on a family ski in the Midwest. “I feel so lucky to have grown up skiing and having fun outdoors!” Diggins recently wrote on her blog. (Photo: Jessie Diggins/JessieDiggins.com)

    Picking up where we left off, here are some random facts about Jessie Diggins, one of seven U.S. Ski Team women officially named to the 2014 Olympic team on Wednesday.

    Athlete: Jessie Diggins

    Team: U.S. Ski Team; Stratton Mountain School T2 Team (first Olympics)

    Jessie Diggins stands near the Rialto Bridge during a day trip to Venice, Italy, earlier this month. (Photo: Jessie Diggins/http://jessiediggins.com/)
    Jessie Diggins stands near the Rialto Bridge during a day trip to Venice, Italy, earlier this month. (Photo: Jessie Diggins/JessieDiggins.com)

    Age: 22

    Hometown: Afton, Minn.

     

    7 Things: 

    1. I was never a cross-country runner, but 100m Fly was my stroke on the swim team
    2. I can do the splits, thanks to hyper-mobility and a year of gymnastics when I was 5 yrs old
    3. I love to bake, and would make banana bread for someone every day if I had time
    4. I love anything with adrenaline, and have gone bungee jumping (and plan to go again)
    5. I took dance classes for 10 years when I was younger. I was never that good, but I LOVED it. Blame that for my love of glitter and pink.
    6. I am terrified of clipless pedals on bikes
    7. I don’t like raisins and will actually pick them out of cereal (yes, I’m THAT kid)

    Bonus Round:

    Jessie Diggins (U.S. Ski Team) on her way to tying a World Cup career best of fifth in Saturday's 3 k freestyle prologue at Stage 1 of the Tour de Ski in Oberhof, Germany. She placed 18th in Sunday's freestyle sprint for 14th overall in the Tour through two stages. (Photo: Marcel Hilger)
    Jessie Diggins (U.S. Ski Team) on her way to tying a World Cup career best of fifth in the first stage of the 2013/2014 Tour de Ski: the 3 k freestyle prologue in Oberhof, Germany. She ended up 13th overall in the Tour. (Photo: Marcel Hilger)
    • Go-to mantra or motto: When I’m having a tough day, it’s usually because I don’t have great self confidence in my ability to ski fast that day, so I just tell myself “you CAN do this! You can!”
    • What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? Besides family and friends: my dogs, and being able to cook for myself.
    • Best part about being a pro athlete: Feeling so fit and strong and like I can do anything I want to, and getting to travel around the world experiencing new cultures and seeing new countries.
    • 3 travel essentials: American gum, Cold-eeze, and lots of cotton t-shirts
    • Go-to travel meal or food: A turkey sandwich and salad.
    • Song that you could listen to non-stop: “I Knew You WereTtrouble” by Taylor Swift. But mostly because of our music video to that song 🙂
    • Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: Any kind of angry rap music.

    ***

    See also: Sadie Bjornsen | Sophie Caldwell | Simi Hamilton | Alex Harvey| Noah Hoffman | Andy Newell | Kikkan Randall

  • 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Alex Harvey

    7 Things You Didn’t Know About Alex Harvey

    Alex Harvey racing in the World Cup individual classic sprint last weekend in Asiago, Italy. Harvey posted the 13th-fastest qualifying time but was disqualified for skating. (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)
    Alex Harvey racing in the World Cup individual classic sprint last weekend in Asiago, Italy. Harvey posted the 13th-fastest qualifying time but was disqualified for skating. (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)

    Alex Harvey’s not a fan of The Biebs; he wishes he was because Bieber’s Canadian — but he just can’t stand that kid’s music. Here are several other random facts about the 25-year-old Québec native on the road to his second Olympics.

    Athlete: Alex Harvey

    Team: Canadian World Cup Team

    Age: 25

    Hometown: St.-Ferreol, Québec

     

    7 Things: 

    1. Most ever 2nd places at “Settlers of Catan”
    2. Sleeping in almost on the daily
    3. Moaning lots when sleeping (and sleeping lots too…so lots of moaning)
    4. I like french toast 1,000 times more than pancakes. By pancakes I do NOT mean crepes. Crepes are great. You can have crepes for lunch
    5. When testing skate skis, and having a different ski in each feet (pair A in left foot, pair B in right foot) the ski in the right foot always feels faster.
    6. When my girlfriend picks me up at the airport, there’s always some fresh baked goods waiting for me, or cheese and crackers. She’s the best.
    7. I chew gum like it’s my job. North American gum lasts way longer then Euro gum. Fact.
    8. (Bonus): Getting better and better at fake listening to what Kersh has to say, while being able to keep doing what I’m doing.

    Bonus Round:

    • Go-to mantra or motto: During rough workouts, I come back to the goals I’ve set for myself and it helps me power through. Then, during the season, when I have a bad race I remember those rough workouts and how I managed to power through them, so it gives me confidence for the next races, even after a bad result.
    • What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? Driving my car. Rentals are OK but I like my car at home. Cooking my own food.
    • Best part about being a pro athlete: We are surrounded by great people who are there to work for us.
    • 3 travel essentials: Noise-cancelling headphones, iPad, coffee grinder+french press combo.
    • Go-to travel meal or food: Sandwich. Boring but I just love sandwiches.
    • Song that you could listen to non-stop: “F*ckwithmeyouknowigotit” by Jay-Z (ft. Rick Ross)
    • Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: Anything Justin Bieber. It’s too bad he’s canadian…but I just can’t stand it.

    ***

    See also: Sadie Bjornsen | Sophie Caldwell | Simi Hamilton | Noah Hoffman | Andy Newell | Kikkan Randall

  • 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Simi Hamilton

    7 Things You Didn’t Know About Simi Hamilton

    Simi Hamilton racing to third in his heat, 14th overall at the Davos World Cup freestyle sprint on Dec. 15. (Photo Bryan Fish/USST)
    Simi Hamilton racing to third in his quarterfinal, 14th overall at the Davos World Cup freestyle sprint on Dec. 15. (Photo: Bryan Fish/USST and simihamilton.com)

    Some little-known facts about the 26-year-old sprinter, who moved across the country to Vermont earlier this year to join the Stratton Mountain School T2 Team. On Sunday, Hamilton placed 14th in the Davos Worlds Cup freestyle sprint on an all-around solid day for the US Ski Team.

    Athlete: Simi Hamilton

    Team: U.S. Ski Team (third year); Stratton Mountain School T2 Team

    Age: 26

    Hometown: Aspen, Colo.

    7 Things: 

    1. My sophomore year of high school I rode my bike to school every single day of the school year. The ride is about 4 miles each way and I had to clean my stepdad’s office for two months in order to earn money to buy a super bright light to get home after ski practice during the winter.
    2. I prefer sparkling water over still water.
    3. I once ‘skitched’ 8 miles behind a school bus during a white-out blizzard.
    4. I have climbed the Grand Teton 37 times.
    5. The first speeding ticket I got was two weeks after I got my license. Since then I’ve only received two warnings.
    6. My favorite thing to listen to on long drives is This American Life.
    7. I once ate over 20 red ants with Matt Whitcomb while on a training trip to Sweden in 2004.

    Bonus Round:

    • Go-to mantra or motto: Harden the **** up.
    • What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? Ski mountaineering at my cabin in the Marble backcountry.
    • Best part about being a pro athlete: Besides racking up a ton of miles and getting to eat as many Milano cookies in the United Club as I want, it would be meeting some of the most driven, talented, and passionate athletes in the World from other countries.
    • 3 travel essentials: Cholula, Dexter, Alpinist Magazine subscription on my iPad.
    • Go-to travel meal or food: Hot waffle with brown (Ghetost) cheese accompanied by a mug of dark coffee when in Scandinavia and fresh baked bread with cheese and sausage and a mug of Emergen-C when I’m outside of Scandinavia
    • Song that you could listen to non-stop: “Prehistoric Dog” by Red Fang. It’s got the ability to mellow me out before bed but also fire me up before race time.
    • Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: Anything by Bruno Mars

    ***

    See also: Sadie Bjornsen | Sophie Caldwell | Noah Hoffman | Andy Newell | Kikkan Randall

  • 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Kikkan Randall

    7 Things You Didn’t Know About Kikkan Randall

    Kikkan Randall racing to fifth in the Kuusamo World Cup 10 k pursuit on Nov. 30.(Photo: Kikkan Randall/kikkan.com http://www.kikkan.com/first-wc-classic-podium/
    Kikkan Randall racing to fifth in the Kuusamo World Cup 10 k pursuit on Nov. 30. (Photo: Kikkan Randall/kikkan.com)

    Continuing with our series on pointless knowledge about professional North American racers, we give you a rare glimpse of Kikkan Randall, who earned her first World Cup classic-sprint podium on Nov. 29 at the season opener in Kuusamo, Finland.

    Athlete: Kikkan Randall

    Team: U.S. Ski Team; Alaska Pacific University

    Age: 30

    Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska

    Kikkan Randall (l) standing the podium at the Kuusamo World Cup after notching her best classic-sprint result on Nov. 29. She finished second to Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk (c) and ahead of Denise Herrmann of Germany in third. (Photo: Kikkan Randall/kikkan.com http://www.kikkan.com/first-wc-classic-podium/
    Kikkan Randall (l) on the podium at the Kuusamo World Cup after notching her best classic-sprint result on Nov. 29 in Finland. She finished second to Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk (c) and ahead of third-place finisher Denise Herrmann of Germany. (Photo: Kikkan Randall/kikkan.com)

    7 Things: 

    1. I had a pet praying mantis when I was in 5th grade.  It grew to be 3 inches long.
    2. I compressed 4 vertebrae in my back from crashing in a downhill ski race on my nordic skis when I was 16.
    3. I was the “Alaska State Teen Safe Driver Competition” winner in 1999 for completing a week-long series of safe driving and online tests.  I won a 1 year academic scholarship to UAA and a big trophy 🙂
    4. I used to hate pink when I was a little girl.
    5. I have an affinity for office supplies and formatting documents.
    6. I won a body building contest in high school.
    7. I still listen to the Backstreet Boys on occasion

    Bonus Round:

    • Go-to mantra or motto: Pain is temporary, pride is forever.
    • What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? The freedom of your daily routine at home. Grocery shopping, laundry and driving a car. And curling up on the couch with my two cats.
    • Best part about being a pro athlete: Getting absolutely strong and fit and enjoying the accompanying energy and positive outlook on life that comes from working out almost everyday.
    • 3 travel essentials: Travel pillow, small speaker for playing music, and my laptop.
    • Go-to travel meal or food: I always have a stash of granola bars in my backpack.  Right now I am super into these dark chocolate-almond-sea salt bars from Kashi.
    • Song that you could listen to non-stop: “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson
    • Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: You’ve got me stumped, I can’t think of one right now.

    ***

    See also: Sadie Bjornsen | Sophie Caldwell | Noah Hoffman | Andy Newell

  • 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Noah Hoffman

    7 Things You Didn’t Know About Noah Hoffman

    Noah Hoffman (USA) climbing to the high point of the 15 k freestyle course on Wednesday at World Championships, where he finished a career-best 15th overall.
    U.S. Ski Team member Noah Hoffman climbing during the 15 k freestyle individual start at 2013 World Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy, where he finished a career-best 15th. On Sunday at the 2013/2014 World Cup opener in Kuusamo, Finland, Hoffman had the race of his life with the fastest 15 k pursuit time for ninth overall.

    Continuing with our series on pointless knowledge about professional North American racers, we bring you some insight on Noah Hoffman, who posted the fastest 15 k freestyle pursuit time on the opening World Cup in Kuusamo, Finland. Das Hoff. 

    Athlete: Noah Hoffman

    Team: U.S. Ski Team (sixth season); Ski & Snowboard Club Vail/Team HomeGrown

    Age: 24

    Hometown: Aspen, Colo.

    7 Things:

    Noah Hoffman enjoys a homemade raw-egg smoothie during a recent family vacation in Utah. (Courtesy photo)
    Noah Hoffman enjoying a homemade raw-egg smoothie. (Courtesy photo)
    1. I can’t stand olives.
    2. I want to live in a big city, maybe Manhattan. I want to live somewhere that I don’t have to own a car.
    3. I love taking public transit.
    4. I have unusually large hands.
    5. My pinkie finger on my right hand has an extra crease so it looks like I have an extra knuckle.
    6. I have extremely wide and flat feet. Duck feet.
    7. I eat raw meat and raw eggs.

    Bonus Round:

    • What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? Good Mexican food, free water and fast internet.
    • Best part about being a pro athlete: Meeting lots of motivated and successful people.
    • 3 travel essentials: Computer, hot sauce, book
    • Go-to travel meal or food: In the U.S.: Burrito or sandwich. In Europe: Whatever has the most calories for the least amount of money
    • Song that you could listen to non-stop: “Old Man” by Neil Young
    • Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: “What Does the Fox Say”

    ***

    See also: Sadie Bjornsen | Sophie Caldwell | Andy Newell

  • 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Andy Newell (Birthday Edition)

    7 Things You Didn’t Know About Andy Newell (Birthday Edition)

    U.S. Ski Team member Andy Newell (SMST2) training in New Zealand. (Photo: Simi Hamilton)
    U.S. Ski Team member Andy Newell (SMST2) training in New Zealand in August. (Photo: Simi Hamilton)

    To get you excited for 2013/2014 racing season, we asked some of the skiers you’ll be reading about from the U.S. and Canadian national teams to tell us seven things about themselves that most people don’t know. To top off the randomness, we also posed a couple questions related to skiing (well, sort of) and the life of a pro athlete.

    Athlete: Andy Newell

    Team: U.S. Ski Team; Stratton Mountain School T2 Team (SMST2)

    Age: 30 (today!)

    Hometown: Shaftsbury, Vt.

    Fifth in the overall Sprint World Cup last season, Andy Newell with women's Sprint World Cup winner and fellow U.S. Ski Team member Kikkan Randall at World Cup Finals in Drammen, Norway. (Courtesy photo)
    Fifth overall in the Sprint World Cup last season, Andy Newell with women’s Sprint World Cup winner and fellow U.S. Ski Team member Kikkan Randall at World Cup Finals in Drammen, Norway. (Courtesy photo)

    7 Things:

    1. I hang up an American flag in every hotel I go to.
    2. My mom sews my wind briefs. Literally I take boxer briefs and she sews wind proof patches on them.
    3. I like to eat Scando fish paste and eggs together
    4. I believe you can never trust anyone who wears white New Balance shoes with blue jeans.  (check it out next time you’re in the airport)
    5. I was a 12-and-under VT state swim champion
    6. I follow 6 different cats on Instagram
    7. Aerosmith’s Sweet Emotion is my go-to karaoke and/or party song if you want to fire people up

    Bonus Round:

    • Go-to mantra or motto: I try to just look at the positive side of things, which can be hard but sometimes it really helpful. When you’re having tough workouts or bad races I need to remind myself that things could be much worse. The most important things in life are your friends and family and I try to keep that in perspective.
    • What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? When I spend the winter in hotels sometimes I miss just the little things while traveling and the freedom that you have at home. Like being able to get in my truck and drive somewhere when I want to, or having fast internet, or just going to the store and being able to read everything.
    • Best part about being a pro athlete: I like how every day is different and the excitement of racing the world cup. When the season finally comes around you realize how great that feeling of being nervous is or the feeling of accomplishment you get from pushing yourself really hard in a race.
    • 3 travel essentials: Guitar, speakers, and an american flag to hang up
    • Go-to travel meal or food: Probably just peanut butter. It’s very american and it’s good to travel with.
    • Song that you could listen to non-stop: “Big Black Bird” by Blitzen Trapper
    • Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: Most Adel songs

    ***

    See also: Sadie Bjornsen | Sophie Caldwell

  • 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Sadie Bjornsen (Birthday Edition)

    7 Things You Didn’t Know About Sadie Bjornsen (Birthday Edition)

    U.S. women in Beitostolen, including Rosie Brennan, Sadie Bjornsen, Jessie Diggins and Sophie Caldwell (Photo: Holly Brooks)
    Several of the U.S. women in Beitostølen, Norway, including (from left to right) Rosie Brennan, Sadie Bjornsen, Jessie Diggins, and Sophie Caldwell (Photo: Holly Brooks/Twitter)

    To get you excited for 2013/2014 racing season, we asked some of the skiers you’ll be reading about from the U.S. and Canadian national teams to tell us seven things about themselves that most people don’t know. To top off the randomness, we also posed a couple questions related to skiing (well, sort of) and the life of a pro athlete.

    Athlete: Sadie Bjornsen

    Team: U.S. Ski Team (third season); Alaska Pacific University (APU)

    Age: 24 (today!)

    Hometown: Winthrop, Wash.

    Sadie Bjornsen and her younger brother Erik with their "Wax Ring" prizes after winning an Alaska Pacific University time trial earlier this month at Hatcher Pass near Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo: http://sadiebjornsen.blogspot.com) http://sadiebjornsen.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-final-countdown.html
    Sadie Bjornsen and her younger brother Erik with their “Wax Ring” prizes after winning an Alaska Pacific University time trial earlier this month at Hatcher Pass near Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo: sadiebjornsen.blogspot.com)

    7 Things:

    1. I take full-time school, and have for the past three years while I race. I am expecting to graduate at some point this year 🙂
    2. I grew up vegetarian until I started traveling to Europe for racing and got sick of eating “fried cheese” that was served to me.
    3. I have an older sister (1.5 years older) – she lives in Seattle and was a skier in her past life
    4. I travel with a frog stuffed animal and his name is Jasper
    5. I have a French boyfriend – and that is where I will spend Christmas this winter, in Meribel, France… first Christmas not at home.
    6. At one point in my life I set the 100-meter World Record on skis…. although I am not sure anyone tried it outside of the US.
    7. Cross Country skiing is new to my family in this generation. My mom grew up in Minnesota, but drove snowmobiles and worked on a farm. My dad was a backcountry and alpine skier.

    Bonus Round:

    • First races of the season? Tomorrow, Beito Classic 10k [in Beitostølen, Norway]
    • Go-to mantra or motto: “Mind is master, body is servant.”
    • What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? My closet. I love variation in outfits, and that is the hardest part about the traveling circus!
    • Best part about being a pro athlete: Testing your ability to accomplish something you set your mind to. There are so many speed bumps along the way, but perseverance and determination are something you have to test every day as a pro athlete. I love that nothing is given, nothing is “pre-determined.” Every day you have to test your ability, test if you are willing to reach that goal!
    • 3 travel essentials: Ear plugs, my journal, Cold-FX
    • Go-to travel meal or food: PB&J
    • Song that you could listen to non-stop: “What is Love” by Haddaway
    • Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: “Gangnum Style”
    Sadie Bjornsen at Hatcher Pass. (Photo: http://sadiebjornsen.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-final-countdown.html
    Sadie Bjornsen striding out at Hatcher Pass near Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo: sadiebjornsen.blogspot.com)

    ***

    See also: Sophie Caldwell

  • 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Sophie Caldwell

    7 Things You Didn’t Know About Sophie Caldwell

    Sophie Caldwell saying goodbye to her brother and sister before a winter of racing with the U.S. Ski Team in Europe. Did you know her siblings are twins?(Photo: sophiecaldwell.blogspot.com/http://sophiecaldwell.blogspot.com/2013/11/beito-update.html)
    Sophie Caldwell (r) says goodbye to her brother, Austin, and sister, Isabel, before spending the next four month racing with U.S. Ski Team in Europe. Did you know her siblings, two years younger, are twins? (Photo: sophiecaldwell.blogspot.com)

    Yes, we’re going there – but only because we know you’re interested! To get you excited for 2013/2014 racing season, we asked the skiers you’ll be reading most about from the U.S. and Canadian national teams to tell us seven things about themselves that most people don’t know. To top off the randomness, we also asked a couple questions related to skiing (well, sort of) and the life of a pro athlete.

    ***

    If I’m struggling in a race or a workout, a lot of the time I’ll say … “Sophie, get your butt up that hill right now.” But it’s not usually put that nicely. — Sophie Caldwell, U.S. Ski Team member

    Sophie Caldwell training in Beitostølen, Norway, before this weekend's FIS races. (http://sophiecaldwell.blogspot.com/2013/11/beito-update.html
    Sophie Caldwell training in Beitostølen, Norway, before this weekend’s FIS races. (Photo: sophiecaldwell.blogspot.com)

    Athlete: Sophie Caldwell

    Team: U.S. Ski Team (first season); Stratton Mountain School T2 Team

    Age: 23

    Hometown: Peru, Vermont

    7 Things:

    1. I love jelly beans
    2. I’m scared of cold water
    3. I went for my first ski when I was 10 months old!
    4. My sister and brother are twins
    5. I grew up with two dalmatians named Daisy and Douglas. They were around my age, so I thought I was a dog for the first couple years of my life.
    6. I was bald until I was 2!
    7. The only food I don’t like (to date) is olives.

    Bonus Round:

    • First races of the season? The FIS sprint in Beitostølen, Norway!
    • Go-to mantra or motto: If I’m struggling in a race or a workout, a lot of the time I’ll say something along the lines of, “Sophie, get your butt up that hill right now.” But it’s not usually put that nicely. I don’t really swear out loud, but sometimes self-talk swearing can go a long way!
    • What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? Double beds and knowing what everything in a grocery store is
    • Best part about being a pro athlete: Travel!
    • 3 travel essentials: Sleepy Bunny (my stuffed animal), sweatpants, liquid iron (gross)
    • Go-to travel meal or food: Eggs in the basket!
    • Song that you could listen to non-stop: “Can’t Go Home” – Good Old War
    • Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: “Work B****” by Britney Spears